A Frontier Airlines flight turned terrifying when passengers and crew had to restrain a man who allegedly went on a mid-air rampage and tried to open an emergency exit.
The chaos unfolded Sunday on a flight traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago, authorities said.
About 45 minutes into the trip, 51-year-old Juan Gabriel Reyes allegedly became disruptive and demanded that crew members let him off the plane.
According to authorities, Reyes then allegedly tried to open an emergency exit door while the aircraft was in the air.
Crew members stopped him, but the situation did not end there.
After allegedly being blocked from opening the exit, Reyes pushed against the cockpit door before crew members escorted him away, court documents say.
As he was being moved away from the front of the aircraft, a flight attendant allowed him to use the restroom. Once inside, Reyes allegedly tried to urinate on the bathroom floor.
The terrifying incident escalated again when an off-duty flight attendant, who had volunteered to sit near Reyes to help monitor him, was allegedly attacked.
Authorities say Reyes grabbed the off-duty flight attendant and choked him.
That is when passengers and crew jumped into action.
Together, they worked to restrain Reyes using flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders. But even then, authorities say he repeatedly broke free, forcing those onboard to keep fighting to control him until the aircraft could land.
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The plane was diverted to Miami, where it landed safely. Reyes was taken into custody after arrival.
He now faces federal charges, including interference with flight crew members and assault.
The frightening episode is the latest reminder of how quickly a routine flight can turn into a nightmare when someone allegedly becomes violent in the air.
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